How to Become a Child Care Worker in Manitoba
Do you need a licence?
Licence required
You must be registered with Early Learning and Child Care Program to work as a child care worker in Manitoba or to use a protected title.
- Protected titles
- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“To work as an employee in a licensed child care facility in Manitoba, you must have a classification certificate issued by the government.”
From gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ieq/index.html, checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Licence required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 3 steps
- Licensed in another province: 2 steps
- Trained outside Canada: 5 steps, listed one-time fees $110
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with Early Learning and Child Care Program
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 3 done
- 3 steps without a listed fee
-
Choose the correct option on the Child Care Worker Classification Application so your application is assessed accurately.
Source
“There are several options on the Child Care Worker Classification Application. Select the correct option to ensure accurate assessment of your application and collect the required documents necessary to support your application.”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/info_classificatio... -
Collect the documents required to support the application option you selected.
Source
“There are several options on the Child Care Worker Classification Application. Select the correct option to ensure accurate assessment of your application and collect the required documents necessary to support your application.”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/info_classificatio... -
Submit the application and any required documentation by email, mail or in person.
Source
“Submit the application and any required documentation”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/info_classificatio...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Early Learning and Child Care Program
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Licensed in another province
0 of 2 done
- 2 steps without a listed fee
-
Contact the Early Learning and Child Care Program if you are already classified in another Canadian province or territory.
Source
“I am classified as an ECE in another Canadian province or territory. What do I do to become classified in Manitoba? Contact the Early Learning and Child Care Program.”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ieq/ieq_faqs.html -
Apply under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement option if you have been employed in or hold certification as an early childhood educator from a listed Canadian province or territory, and provide your certificate and government ID.
Source
“Applicants who have been employed in or have certification as an early childhood educator from Alberta, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, or the Yukon.”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/info_classificatio...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Early Learning and Child Care Program
2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Trained outside Canada
0 of 5 done
- Listed one-time fees: $110
- 4 steps without a listed fee
- Listed time: 1.4 to 2.8 months (only 1 of 5 steps state a time)
-
Gather detailed information about your education, including a syllabus, transcripts and original diploma or degree.
Source
“Ensure you have detailed information about your education, including a syllabus, your transcripts (score reports), and original diploma or degree.”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ieq/ieq_faqs.html -
Submit the Application for Classification as a Child Care Worker with the required documents.
Source
“The Early Learning and Child Care Program will review your Application for Classification as a Child Care Worker and required documents.”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ieq/become_classif... -
The Early Learning and Child Care Program reviews your application and compares your international education to Manitoba requirements to determine if it is equivalent to CCA, ECE II or ECE III.
Source
“The Early Learning and Child Care Program will compare your international education to Manitoba education requirements to determine if your education is equivalent to Child Care Assistant (CCA), ECE II or ECE III.”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ieq/become_classif... -
If you may qualify for ECE classification, complete a credential assessment with a Canadian agency, preferably IQAS, and have the report sent to the Early Learning and Child Care Program.
- IQAS credential assessment fee: $110
Source
“Fee | $110 - $145 (May 2012)”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ieq/become_classif...
Time: 6 to 12 weeksTime source
“Processing time | 6 - 12 weeks”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ieq/become_classif...Source
“Following your application review, if it appears that you may qualify for ECE classification, the Early Learning and Child Care Program will refer you to a credential assessment service. The International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) is preferred.”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ieq/become_classif... - IQAS credential assessment fee: $110
-
If you do not qualify for ECE classification, the program classifies you as a Child Care Assistant and mails you a CCA certificate with a letter explaining the decision.
Source
“The Early Learning and Child Care Program will classify you as a Child Care Assistant (CCA). The Early Learning and Child Care Program will mail you a CCA certificate and a letter that explains why you do not qualify for ECE classification.”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ieq/become_classif...
Listed fees for this route
One-time total listed: $110
| Fee type | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Application | $110 | 100% |
| One-time total | $110 | 100% |
4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- IQAS Educational Pre-assessment fee: $200 (non-refundable)
Source
“The fee for an EPA is $200. The fee allows up to 3 programs of study per application and it is non-refundable.”
alberta.ca/iqas-educational-pre-assessment - IQAS reassessment fee: $200 (refunded only if the reassessment changes the original decision)
Source
“All requests for reassessment cost $200. The reassessment fee will be automatically refunded only if the reassessment results in a change from the original assessment decision.”
alberta.ca/iqas-reassessment-process
Requirements
Police check
Upon employment in a Manitoba child care facility, child care workers must complete a Criminal Record Check.
Source
“Upon employment in a Manitoba child care facility, all child care workers will be required to confirm their status in Canada and complete a Criminal record Check and a Child Abuse Registry Check.”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/info_classificatio...
Residency
You must have a Canadian address to receive a classification certificate.
Source
“No. You must have a Canadian address to receive a classification certificate.”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ieq/ieq_faqs.html
Other
You must be a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant (permanent resident), temporary foreign worker, or applying through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program.
Source
“Be one of the following: - Canadian citizen - Landed immigrant (permanent resident) - Temporary foreign worker”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ieq/index.htmlUpon employment in a Manitoba child care facility, child care workers must complete a Child Abuse Registry Check.
Source
“Upon employment in a Manitoba child care facility, all child care workers will be required to confirm their status in Canada and complete a Criminal record Check and a Child Abuse Registry Check.”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/info_classificatio...
Already licensed in another province?
Direct transfer
Applicants with certification as an early childhood educator from another Canadian province or territory may apply to have their certification recognized without any additional exam or assessment being stated. Source
“Individuals who have received certification to work in early learning and child care from another Canadian province or territory may apply to have their certification recognized for the 40-hour course requirement.”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/40-hour_course.html
Apply for certification recognition
Source
“Individuals who have received certification to work in early learning and child care from another Canadian province or territory may apply to have their certification recognized for the 40-hour course requirement.”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/40-hour_course.html
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Early Learning and Child Care Program
Credential assessment
International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)
Compares international education to Manitoba education standards for classification
Source
“IQAS will verify your documents and compare your education programs to the education programs in Manitoba. IQAS will send a statement of comparison directly to the Early Learning and Child Care Program.”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ieq/become_classif...
Exams
Not stated by the regulator Check with Early Learning and Child Care Program
Language tests
| Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | CLB | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) (Recommended) | — | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | — | Source“However, to be eligible for one of the PLA program streams, it is recommended to have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of Level 7 or higher in all four skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) in English.”gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ieq/ieq_faqs.html |
Exemptions: There are no English language requirements for classification. Source
“There are no English language requirements for classification.”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ieq/ieq_faqs.html
Canadian experience
If your education is related to child care, you may be eligible to apply to the Prior Learning Assessment program after working full time for one year in a licensed child care facility in Manitoba. Source
“If your education is related to child care, you may be eligible to apply to this program after working in a licensed child care facility in Manitoba for one year (Full Time).”
gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ieq/become_classif...
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with Early Learning and Child Care Program
Demand and pay
No Job Bank wage or outlook data for this occupation yet.
Child care workers in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Not confirmed yet
- Alberta Not confirmed yet
- Saskatchewan Not confirmed yet
- Ontario Not confirmed yet
- Quebec Not confirmed yet
- New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
- Nova Scotia Not confirmed yet
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- Province of Manitoba | education - Internationally Educated Applicants gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ieq/index.html · fetched October 10, 2026
- Province of Manitoba | education - Information on the Classification of Early Childhood Educators and Child Care Assistants gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/info_classificatio... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Province of Manitoba | education - Frequently Asked Questions – Internationally Educated Applicants gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ieq/ieq_faqs.html · fetched October 10, 2026
- Province of Manitoba | education - ECE Tuition Reimbursement gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ece_tuition_suppor... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Province of Manitoba | education - Step Three: Preliminary Review gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ieq/become_classif... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Province of Manitoba | education - Step Four: Credential Assessment gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/ieq/become_classif... · fetched October 10, 2026
- IQAS Educational Pre-assessment | Alberta.ca alberta.ca/iqas-educational-pre-assessment · fetched October 10, 2026
- IQAS reassessment process | Alberta.ca alberta.ca/iqas-reassessment-process · fetched October 10, 2026
- Province of Manitoba | education - 40-Hour Course Options gov.mb.ca/education/childcare/students_workforce/40-hour_course.html · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
1
Do you need a licence to work as a child care worker in Manitoba?
Yes. Registration with Early Learning and Child Care Program is required to practise in Manitoba.
Getting Licensed? Get Your Resume Ready Too
Nainly pairs expert resume assessment with a done-for-you career marketing campaign, so your profile keeps reaching decision-makers while you work through the licensing steps.
Schedule a CallFree consultation. No commitment.